7 Tips to avoid fatigue when working at home
Research regarding fatigue and working from home/online/over the phone suggests that working remotely can increase fatigue and increase time spent on the job. So if you are feeling more tired you are not alone. Here are contributing factors to watch for:
1) There is an absence of verbal and nonverbal cues – think about it, when you are in your office you are “hearing” so much more than what the person is saying. In order to really be present with the person and understand what their needs are you expend more energy when on the phone with someone than when in person because you are not “reading” the room
2) Spotty technology – the call/video call going in and out – this is anxiety producing for both you and the patient
3) You lack your comforts – when you have an office space you set it up in a way that feels comfortable to you and your patient – most of us working from home have had to improvise and don’t have the comforts we have when in our regular office
4) Resources are not at your fingertips – in other words when you talk with someone about a skill/strategy/ect you can’t provide them (in the moment) with the material (you have to email it afterwards). When you are in your office you can open your drawer and pull out the needed paperwork to give to the patient and discuss it with them
5) Staring at a screen is much more tiring than meeting with someone face-to-face. You can easily get screen fatigue which increases your feelings of tiredness – and subsequently also can cause sleep problems, which leads to more fatigue (it is a vicious circle)
6) During a pandemic as healthcare workers we are trying to support others with their needs/fears while managing our own – this can take a toll and be difficult – which leads to more fatigue (this is where self-care comes in!)
7) During a pandemic we are juggling many things and every day is spent trying to prioritize what is most important that day – trying to balance work/personal life can be very challenging when working from home
If any of these apply to you it is important to remember to not overbook yourself and to take breaks when able. The recommendation is to take a short break between each patient in order to get up, stretch and rest your mind and eyes.